Beer coil cleaner



June 26, 1934. Q H WATSON 1,964,235

BEER COIL CLEANER Filed Jan. 22, 1934 Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFti-eizl BEER COIL CLEANER George H. Watson, LosAngeles, Calif., assigner of ene-half to Isidore Schwartz ,and one-half to Sarah L. Schwartz, both of Los Angeles', Calif.v

Application `lanuary 22, 1934, Serial No. 707,667 7 Claims; (C1. 22a- 132) My invention relates to a beer coil cleaner and has for its principal object, the provision of a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive device that may be utilized for periodically cleaning and sterilizin'g the coils that are used for cooling beer as it is drawn from containers such as kegs or barrels.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a beer coil cleaner that includes a container for a cleaningr and sterilizing substance, said con'- tainer having hot and cold water connections so that the cleaning and sterilizing substance may be forced through the beer cooling coils under pressure to thoroughly cleanse and sterilize the 15Y saine and the flow of hot and cold water into and through the container being controlled by a valve that is actuated by the conventional fitting that forms a part of the beer cooling apparatus and which is removably inserted in the beer kegs or ,20 containers.

A further object of my invention is, to vprovide a beer coil cleaner that is adapted to receive the conventional form of tube that is inserted in the beer kegs or containers and which conveys the beer to the cooling coils. Y

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists Vin certainnovel features of construction 'and arrangementsof parts that wilt be hereinafter more. fully` described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying o drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a verticalsection takenlengthwise through the center `of a beer coilcleaner constructed accordance with vmy invention. M Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line r zzof Fie. 1..k

Fig. 3 is a vdetail perspective view of the lower end o f the tubular fitting that is inserted in the upper portion of the cleaning device for engaging `and operating the valve at the lower end of the 40 cleaner. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of the valve stern or rodV and which is engaged by the tubular fitting that is inserted in the top of the cleaner. Y

45 Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 554O` Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a sectionalfvievvV showing a collar that is screw-seated on a flanged outlet in the top of the cleaner when a conventional formvof tube is 50 inserted in the container of the' cleaner for drawing'oif the contents thereof. w A Y K ef r'ringl by numerals to thev accompanying dr'avin'f'gn which' illustrates a preferred ern'bodiA nient ofjmy invention, ldesi'gnates a container .5.5 preferably formed' of' glass and cylindrical in shape andthe endsr of this container are closed by an upper plate ll and a' lower plate 12, said plates being clamped on the ends of the container 10 by rods or elongated bolts 13.

Formed integral with the bottom plate l2 and depending therefrom, isa short tubular Wall 14, the lower end of which is closed by a removable plug and connected to said wall on opposite sides thereof, are pipes 16v that are connected respectively to sources of hot and coldl water supply.

Formed through plate 12, above the Achamber within the wall 14, are openings 17 and the'flow of water upwardly throughV these openings is controlled by a gate valve lthat lies'irhmediately against the underside of lplate 12 within the chamber of tubular wall 14.'.V

Seated inthe upper plate 11, directly above the openings' 17, and extending downwardly into the chamber within container 10. is a short tubular fitting or bushing 19, the lower end of which is closed'byaplate 20.

Formedy through the center of this plate, is an opening' 2l and formed through saidplate to the c sides of said opening, are .openings 22.k l

Formed integral with the wall of the bushing 19,. is an inwardly projecting flange 23, ori top of which rests a packing'riiig or gasketl24.

Tubular member 19 is adapted to receive th lower portion of a tting 25, that forms a part of the conventional apparatus for .conveying beer from the keg's or containers to the cooling .coils andwhich fitting. is inserted in the .conventional bung fitting of the beer keg or container. Y

This fitting' 25 is provided with a short tubular terminal` portion26` having openings 27 formed in its Wall'and formed in the lower end of this tubular vportion' 26 are' diametrically arrangedt notches 28.

Fitting is provided with a laterally projecting tubular arm 29, to which is `connected a iiexible tube 30 and the latter leads to'the coil of the beer cooling apparatus. i A

The lower` endoi` a rod or valve stern 31 passes through plate 12 between the openings 17 and the lower end of said rodis connected to'r'o'd 181 The upper'end of this steni'or rod 3l extends through the 'opening 21' in the center' ofplate V2 0 and x'd to th 'upper e'dof'said rod and'arrangedwithin thev 'lower portion @fthe A(.:lianiberiii thebushing" 191:, is a short c'rossfbary'. lhis' cross adapta.wxprcupyttwit $128,111 ne 1.o i endofthentung :ztwhen the utter inserted the bushing 19.

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engagethe cross bar on the upper end of the valve stem, a shoulder on fitting 25 engages the packing ring or gasket 24 to forni a fluid pressure tight joint between the bushing and fitting.

When fitting 25 is positioned in the bushing, it is retained therein by a conventional bayonet joint (not shown).

Formed through plate 11 to the side of the bushing 19, is an opening 34 surrounded by an externally threaded flange 35 and arranged within said flange is a packing ring or gasket 36.

When the conventional fitting 25 is applied to my improved beer coil cleaner, the opening 35 is closed by a cap 37 that is screwed onto the threaded flange 35.

Certain forms of beer drawing apparatus include a long tubular member such as 38 that is inserted in the kegs or barrels through the conventional bung bushing and in order that my mproved cleaning device may accommodate this tube 38, the opening 34 is provided and when the tube is inserted through said opening, a collar such as 39 which encircles the tube 38, is screwed onto the threaded flange 35, and said collar comprises the packing ring or gasket 36 so as to provide a fluid pressure tight joint between the tube 38 and said threaded ilange (see Fig. 6).

In the use of my improved beer coil cleaner, valve 18A is shifted into position to close the openings 17 and a suitable cleaning solution is A delivered through bushing 19 to fill the container.

Opening 39 is closed by cap 13 and fitting 25 is now inserted in bushing 19 and manipulated so that the notches 28 engage the cross bar 33 on the upper end of valve stem 31.

' Y Fitting 25 is now rotated approximately a quarter turn, which moves valve 18 into position so as to uncover the openings 17 and hot and cold water from pipes 16 now ilows under pressure A through openings 17 upwardly into the container to force the cleaning iiuid contained therein out through openings 22 in the bottom of the bushing, thence through openings 27 into fitting 25 and the cleansing solution passes from said fitting through the flexible tube 30 to and through the coils of the beer cooling apparatus.

The flow of hot and cold water through the supply pipes 16 is controlled by suitably located valves (not shown) After the cleansing and sterilizing operation has been completed, tting 25 is partially rotated to close valve 18 and said tting is then removed from the bushing and repositioned in the bung bushing of the beer keg or barrel.

When my improved cleaner is utilized in con 'nection with beer drawing apparatus having a Fr' Ce) tube suoli as 38, a suitable plug shaped similarly to the lower portion of fitting 25 is inserted in bushing 19 and partially rotated to close valve 18,

after which the container 10 is filled with the cleansing solution.

Cap 37 is removed and tube 38 is inserted through opening 34, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and collar 39 is screwed onto flange 35 to compass gasket 36 and form a tight joint between the flange and inserted tube.

The plug that is inserted in bushing 19 and which engages cross bar 33 on valve stem 31 is now rotated approximately a quarter turn to shift Valve 18 and uncover openings 17 and the cleansing solution under pressure of the water flowing through pipes 16 will pass into and through tube 38 and ilow from thence to and through the coils of the beer coil apparatus.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a beer coil cleaner that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

An especially desirable feature of my invention is, the construction whereby the cleaner may be utilized in connection with the standard forms of apparatus utilized for drawing beer from kegs and barrels and conveying the same to the coils of the cooling apparatus.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved beer coil cleaner may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A beer coil cleaner, comprising a container, a water supply pipe connected to the lower portion of said container, a Valve for controlling the flow of water from said supply pipe into and through said container, a stem secured to said valve and extending upwardly through said container, a bushing in the upper portion of said container, which bushing is adapted to receive a conventional form of fitting used for drawing beer from kegs and like containers and a head on the upper end of said Valve stem, which head occupies said bushing and is adapted to be engaged by the conventional fitting when the latter is inserted in said bushing.

2. In a beer coil cleaner, a container, a fluid supply pipe connected to the lower portion of said container, a valve for controlling the now of fluid from said supply pipe into and through the container, a bushing seated in the upper portion of said container, said bushing being provided with outlet ports, a stem projecting upwardly from said valve into said bushing and a head carried by the upper end of said valve stem and arranged within said bushing.

3. In a beer coil cleaner, a container, a fluid supply pipe connected to the lower portion of said container, a valve for controlling the iiow of fluid from said supply pipe into and through the container, a bushing seated in the upper portion of said container, said bushing being provided with outlet ports, a stem projecting upwardly from said valve into said bushing, a head carried by the upper end of said valve stem and arranged within said bushing and a packing ririg positioned within said bushing.

4. A beer coil cleaner, comprising a container, a water supply pipe connected to the lower portion of said container, a Valve for controlling the flow of water from said supply pipe into and through said container, a stem secured to said valve and extending upwardly through said container, a bushing in the upper portion of said container, which bushing is adapted to receive a conventional form of fitting used for drawing beer from kegs and like containers, a head on the upper end of said valve stem, which head occupies said bushing and is adapted to be engaged by the conventional ntting when the latter is inserted in said bushing, there being an opening formed through the top of the container and a cap for normally closing said opening.

5. In a beer coil cleaner, a container, a fluid supply pipe connected to the lower portion of said container, a valve for controlling the flow or fluid from said supply pipe into and through the container, a bushing seated in the upper portion of said container, said bushing being provided with outlet ports, a stem projecting upwardly from said Valve into said bushing, a head carried by the upper end of said valve stern and arranged within said bushing, there being an opening formed through the top of the container and a cap for normally closing said opening.

6. In a beer coil cleaner, a container, a bushing seated in the upper portion of said container, there being outlet openings formed in the lower portion of said bushing, a pair of fluid supply pipes connected to the lower portion of said container, ports in the lower portion of the container for permitting uid from said supply pipes to enter said container, a valve normally closing said ports, a stem secured to said valve and projecting upwardly through the container into the lower portion of said bushing and a head on the upper end of said stem within said bushing.

7. In a beer coil cleaner, a container, a bushing seated in the upper portion of said container, there being outlet openings formed in the lower portion of said bushing, a pair of fluid supply pipes connected to the lower portion of said container, ports in the lower portion of the container for permitting uid from said supply pipes to enter said container, a Valve normally closing said ports, a stem secured to said valve and projecting upwardly through the container into the lower portion of said bushing, a head on the upper end of said stem within said bushing and a packing ring supported within said bushing abo-ve the outlet ports therein.

GEORGE H. WATSON. 

